Induction heating device for stationary or moving material

Abstract

An induction heating method and device for solid, liquid and/or gaseous materials in motion or in stationary conditions are disclosed. This type of induction heating devices can be integrated into machinery or household appliances, for civil, professional or industrial use and offers large heating surfaces and very high electromagnetic-thermal transduction efficiency.

1 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) comprising:
 at least one induced element ( 10 )   at least one inductor element ( 20 )   at least one induced element ( 30 )   at least a gap ( 15 ) placed between the induced element ( 10 ) and the inductor element ( 20 )   and at least a gap ( 35 ) placed between the induced element ( 30 ) and the inductor element ( 20 )   characterized in that   the induced element ( 10 ) and the induced element ( 30 ) comprise a non-ferromagnetic metal or a non-ferromagnetic mixture of metals and wherein the material to be heated, that transits or stays inside the gaps, is a solid or a liquid or a suspension or a gel or a gas or a mixture of at least two of these.   
     
     
         2 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1  wherein the inductor element ( 20 ) is placed from the non-ferromagnetic induced element ( 10 ) and/or ( 30 ) at a distance between 0.1 mm and 1000 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 20 mm. 
     
     
         3 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the inductor element ( 20 ) consists in “n” inductor elements, with “n” greater than or equal to 2, connected individually or in series or in parallel to one or more oscillators. 
     
     
         4 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to,  claim 1 , wherein the induced elements, ( 10 ) and ( 30 ), have a tubular conformation with a round or oval or polygonal section and the inductor element ( 20 ) has a solenoid conformation and inductor and induced elements are arranged concentrically with parallel or mutually inclined axes. 
     
     
         5 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the device ( 100 ) is contained within totally or partially closed chamber. 
     
     
         6 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-ferromagnetic induced element ( 10 ) and/or ( 30 ) consists of a non-ferromagnetic metal or a non-ferromagnetic metal alloy such as aluminum, zinc, brass, bronze, copper, titanium, austenitic steel, paramagnetic steel, diamagnetic steel, silver, gold, inconel, hastelloy. 
     
     
         7 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-ferromagnetic induced elements ( 10 ) and/or ( 30 ) have a thickness comprised between 6 micrometers and 10000 micrometers, preferably between 6 and 1000 micrometers. 
     
     
         8 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-ferromagnetic induced elements ( 10 ) and/or ( 30 ) are flat, folded, embossed and/or perforated. 
     
     
         9 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the device ( 100 ) consists of several non-ferromagnetic induced elements separated from each other by gaps. 
     
     
         10 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-ferromagnetic induced elements ( 10 ) and/or ( 30 ) consists of several sheets galvanically joined together or by a single continuous sheet folded back on itself. 
     
     
         11 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-ferromagnetic induced elements are different from each other in thickness, shape and/or chemical composition. 
     
     
         12 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , where in the non-ferromagnetic induced elements and/or the gaps have equal or dissimilar dimensions. 
     
     
         13 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-ferromagnetic inductors ( 10 ) and ( 30 ) and the spiral inductor ( 20 ) are planer and lie on parallel or converging or diverging planes. 
     
     
         14 . Induction heating device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the induced elements is partially or integrally coupled to insulating and/or metal supports with solid or planar geometry and that are planar and/or embossed and/or ribbed and/or perforated. 
     
     
         15 . Method for heating a material through an induction heating device ( 100 ) consisting of the following phases:
 1) to prepare a device ( 100 ) consisting of
 at least one non-magnetic induced element ( 10 ), 
 at least one gap (15) 
 at least one inductor (20) 
 at least one gap (35) 
 and at least one non-magnetic armature ( 30 ) and characterized in that the induced elements ( 10 ) and ( 30 ) are composed of at least one non-ferromagnetic metal and at least one non-ferromagnetic mixture of metals; 
   2) To insert the material into the gaps of the device ( 100 );   3) to connect the inductor element ( 20 ) to a specific oscillator;   4) to activate the oscillator so that the appropriate electric current is applied to the inductor element ( 20 ).